Union wants flats for teachers in Hiranandanis Powai project

Following the Bombay High Court order asking Hiranandani builders to construct homes for the weaker section,a state teachers union has written to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to consider teachers from government-recognised schools for these flats whenever they are built and ready to be allotted.

Following the Bombay High Court order asking Hiranandani builders to construct homes for the weaker section,a state teachers union has written to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to consider teachers from government-recognised schools for these flats whenever they are built and ready to be allotted.

Hearing three public interest litigations (PILs) claiming that the Hiranandani group had constructed more spacious apartments than mentioned in the agreement with the state government,the HC on Wednesday directed that the realty group would have to provide 15 per cent of the total developed space to the government at the rate of Rs 135 per sq ft. The state government was instructed to sell these flats to government employees in a transparent manner and at the same rate.

Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad (MRSP),a state-wide teachers union,in its letter to the Chief Minister has urged that the flats be offered to teachers who cannot afford a house in Mumbai and travel from far off places.

Over 15,000 teachers working in various government recognised schools have to travel from places like Thane,Navi Mumbai and even Raigad,where they live in rented houses. Most of them are working on a very low salary and will not be able to afford a house in Mumbai. We have requested the CM to keep such teachers in mind and offer them some of the flats in Hiranandani Powai, said Anil Bornare,MRSP president.

They have to pay high rents. If they get these flats,their travelling time would also be cut down. As it is government-recognised unaided schools are not getting grants from the government because of which these teachers are poorly paid. They deserve to get this opportunity and we have demanded that state government should consider them for the flats, he added.

Dattatray Karnik,a teacher from a government-recognised school in Goregaon,said: We are thankful to the MRSP for taking our case forward with the state government. I travel all the way from Badlapur to Goregaon every day. I have to change trains and then take a bus to reach the school.